Charlotte Sprague

In May of 2001, I was in my own private hell. My physically active life of frequenting the gym and running came to an abrupt stop. I herniated a disc in my back and was in severe pain. Not only did my back hurt, but I also was experiencing sciatica down my leg and numbness in my right foot. I had always thought of myself as having a very high pain tolerance, but this was unlike anything I have ever felt.

Like most people probably do when they are ill or hurt, I went to a medical doctor. The doctor gave me a wide range of drugs including anti-inflamatories, muscle relaxants, steroids and narcotics. The combination of drugs certainly altered my mental alertness, but I was still in agony. The doctor explained to me that pain was “a complaint, and not a symptom” and that I would probably continue to experience low back pain since I am tall. It was clear that back pain and what felt like a barbed wire yo-yo going up and down my leg was of little significance or concern to the medical community.

I felt depressed since I was ingesting so much medication and still not able to sleep, stand, sit, or move very well due to the excruciating pain. I was also very concerned about taking narcotics due to having a profound history of addiction in my family. Additionally, the workouts that were so ingrained in my everyday life and my preparation for the Avon Breast Cancer 60 mile walk in October had both ceased. Because of my back injury, I could barely get from the bed to the bathroom without tears. I was not able to sit in a chair for more than 2 minutes at a time. I was pathetic and unable to find reprieve.

After several weeks of little to no improvement, I decided to research Chiropractic care. Live Well Chiropractic was a recommended practice by the organizers of the Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day event. For some reason, I always assumed that only the tree-hugging holistic types of individuals pursued Chiropractic care. Although I did not consider myself to be quite that crunchy-granola / herbal, I was willing to try anything. So, I made an appointment.

From the moment I met Dr. Shoshana and Dr. Kristy, I was impressed with the fact that they are both good listeners, embody professionalism, and seem to hold themselves accountable to similar sets of core values. They never interrupted me and conducted a thorough analysis of my situation prior to the first adjustment. My first adjustment happened to fall on my birthday, and for the first time in several weeks, I could actually sit through dinner that evening. However, the part that most impressed me was when they called me at home that evening to find out how I was feeling. They actually seemed to care about me.

Almost immediately after the first adjustment, I experienced relief from my back pain and came off of all medication. I also began the education process of understanding that Chiropractic care is not about curing back pain. Rather, it is an evolution to overall health and well-being. I also learned that Chiropractic care benefits have nothing to do with whether or not an individual is innately crunchy-granola. (Or, perhaps I have just assimilated well.)

I am excited to share that I just completed the Avon 3-Day 60-mile walk. My back feels fantastic and I am not even sore from the long trek. In fact, I held the adjustment well and stayed balanced throughout the event. I know that I was able to complete the Avon Walk successfully due to the care and support I have received from Live Well Chiropractic.

I will continue to recognize, embrace, and promote the importance of Chiropractic care and its significance on helping me to lead a healthy life. I express my gratitude to Dr. Shoshana and Dr. Kristy. Their grace and commitment to excellence is an inspiration for us all.